The prerequisites for Iraq to become a member of the World Trade Organization were addressed by the Parliamentary Economy, Industry and Trade Committee and the Permanent Representative to the World Trade Organization on Tuesday.
The committee hosted the Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the World Trade Organization, His Excellency Ambassador Saqr Al-Muqbel, the Commercial Attaché at the Saudi Embassy, Mr. Riyad Al-Hashemi, the Director General of Relations in the Iraqi Ministry of Commerce, and the Assistant Director General of Foreign Relations in the Ministry of Trade, according to a statement from the media office of Representative Ahmed Salim Al-Kinani, the chairman of the Parliamentary Committee. The statement said that the committee discussed with the Saudi delegation the requirements for Iraq’s accession to the World Trade Organization, most notably the approval of the intellectual property law, which is one of the requirements for joining the organization.
Representative Ahmed Salim Al-Kanani, the chairman of the Parliamentary Committee, affirmed that Iraq has been working hard since 2006 to join the World Trade Organization in order to improve the country’s economic standing and bring it in line with international standards. He noted that Iraq has fulfilled all the prerequisites to join the WTO in 2023; the only thing left to do is enact legislation. Intellectual property legislation is necessary for Iraq to join the world community and change commerce so that imports and exports meet internationally recognized norms and quality requirements.
